URGENT ADVICE NEEDED! Ashes and her kittens. UPDATE in post #50

**Reachoutrescue** · 02-10-2009, 01:45 AM

I looked up some info online:

Occasionally kittens will be born prematurely. They will be small, thin, and have little or no hair. These kittens require intensive nursing care. Premature kittens often fail to nurse, and often need to be fed with a syringe, bottle or stomach tube. They also need to be kept warm if the queen rejects them.

I offered the kittens some formula from a syringe. They refused at first, but then I got them to take about .4cc each. Better than nothing. I also was able to stimulate them to urinate. I have them in the cage with Ashes on a blanket with a heating pad underneath. I plan to feed them every hour or so until I can call my vet in the morning. I just hope I can save them.

Ashes is still resting comfortably. I found this online as well:

So-called interrupted labor is sufficiently common in the cat to be considered a normal occurrence. In this case the queen ceases straining, rests happily, suckles those kittens already born and accepts food, despite still having more kittens to deliver. This resting stage may last up to 24 or even 36 hours, after which straining recommences and the remainder of the litter is born normally.

This seems to be what is going on with her right now. I will call the vet when they open at 9am. Will keep you all posted. Any suggestions or advice well appreciated. You think after almost 5 yrs doing rescue that this would not be new to me....but I have NEVER seen this type of delivery before and just am so worried now.

**G535** · 02-10-2009, 02:41 AM

Sounds like you're doing all you can now, hope they thrive until you can see the vet.

**Reachoutrescue** · 02-10-2009, 04:38 AM

Thank you. The first kitten has passed away, the second is still fighting to live, but I don't think he'll make it.

Ashes has not gone back into labor yet. Is it possible to go to term with the remaining kittens?

I'm going to try to get some sleep. I'll update soon.

**Medusa** · 02-10-2009, 05:13 AM

I experienced this w/my tortie, Pigeon. When I rescued her she was ready to deliver. Her kittens were premature, did not try to nurse and she kept trying to suffocate them. I finally had to remove them from her. She had three kittens, one born dead, another died shortly thereafter. I bottle fed the third one but it died w/in a couple of hours. Your vet may be able to give you some good advice. I did everything that my vet told me to do but the kittens just couldn't make it and Pigeon wasn't the least interested in them. She must have known that there was something wrong.

I'm sorry that this is happening and I do hope that you're able to save the surviving kittens but either way, know that you did your best w/them. It will be a round the clock issue to keep them alive until they're able to on their own with or without Ashes' help.

**smokey the elder** · 02-10-2009, 07:34 AM

I had a foster, Silver. Her five kittens were born preemie on Halloween; they looked much like Ashes' kittens. She didn't know what to do with them, and we lost the whole litter.

**Reachoutrescue** · 02-10-2009, 07:49 AM

The little kitten is still fighting to hang on. He has been alive for about 7 hours now. I gave him another feeding at 7 am and he urinated. Ashes still has not had anymore kittens, but I can feel faint movements in her belly. I am not sure if it is kittens or just her body, but she still has quite a belly. I called my vet, but she was not in. The vet tech told me that Ashes will need to have a c-section to remove the remaining babies, as she will just wait for them to die to deliver them. I have a feeling we will lose them all, but we will do everything in our power to save them. It is so sad.